Hitch for corn binders and hayracks



Nov, 16, 1943.

R. A. 'KOELLER HITCH FOR CORN-BINDERS AND HAY-RACKS Filed April 5, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nbv. 16,-1943.

R. A. KOELLER 2,334,415 HITCH FOR CORNBINDERS AND HAY-RACKS Filed April 5, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q V- m fig la a, 51% WW Patented Nov; 16, 19.43

m mam FOR-CORN BINDERS Ann i t HAYRACKS'E 1 ,loem

,1; x Koellcr, Genoa, Ill. p I Application'April 5; 1943, Serial No 481,354

v v V ironim l (c t zen- 33.44 a This invention relates to an improved" hitch for a corn-binder and hay-rack; v 7

' The principal object of my invention is to that is easily 'a'ttachable to a tractor, to permit the pulling of the binder and'hay-rack together alongside one another, and permit adjustment of the hay-rack rearwardly in relation to the provide a simple and economical hitch device binder as it is loaded with bundles, by means";

of a simple pedalcontrol on the tractor, whereby to avoid the necessity for anextra mandri'vin'g a team of horses pulling a hay-rack and also obviate much of the difficulty'going'with that kind of operation, where the man on the hayrack is not experienced and does not keep the hay-rack improper relation to the binder for the efficient loading of bundles. Y 1 r A salient feature of the'hitchof my invention is the provision one single shaft of a" drum'on which the rope for pulling the hay-rack is wound, and a brake drum cooperating with a brake band operable by foot pedal control from the tractor, so that the shaft normally held against turning except when the brake is released by the operator to allow the hay-racktoback'up in relation to the binder in the loadin g bf the hay-rack.

Another important feature of thepres'ent hitch is the provision of a hand crank on'the outer end of the shaft'adjacent'the rope drum for convenient preliminary adjustment of the hitch at the start.

" 'The invention is illustrated the "accompany? ing drawings, in which-e Fig. 1 is a plan view-of a tion applied-thereto;

I v I tractor showing a hitch constructed in accordance'withlmy inven odically changing ofone of twotrailing vehicles to the other where 1 between guide projections from the drum for connection,

the fore and aft relationship the vehicles travel in parallel. Whiletheinvention Was conceived with relation to the agricul tural implement field, it should be obvious that other uses will'doubtlesslY be" found 'for it in fotherfields, wherever a similar problem is presented. i n

Referring to the drawings, the tractor T has applied to its frame in an adapter frame for the hitch consisting of longitudinally extending beams H and l2 ldisposed on opposite sides of I the tractor. l3 is a the rear'end portions of thebearris and I2 transverse boom carried on and braced at its outer'end byfla diagonally extending rod l4; which'extends past-theiront 0f the'left wheel I! is mounted in two pairs ofbearings l8 and l-9 0n the boom l3 and has a rope drum 2U suitably fixed onthe outer end portion between the i bearings") and a brake drum 2 I suitably. fixed on the'inner end portion between the bearings l9. A rope or cable 22 suitably fixed to:the drum 2%] and wound thereon extends rearwardly as at 23, to the 24 of the wagon extends 25 provided on the wagon W. The tongue upper ends of the bearings '20. A hand crank 26 is secured on the projecting outer end portion of the shaft I1 and is used inwinding the rope or cable on. the drum 20 in the preliminary adjustment of the hay-rack W inrelation to the corn-binder B. As-will soon Fig. 2 is a plan view-on a smallerfscaleshowiingthe relationship of the hitch to theb'inder and -hay-rack; I V 1 Fig. 3 is arear view of the'supp'orti'ng boom of the hitch showing the rope drum'and brake drum and -the"relationship of thefropefdrumjto the tongueof the hay-rack, and j ng. 4 i a sectional detail on the line 4-410;

Fig.

" The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts in these four views. a

The hitch ofmy invention isherein disclosed as used in connection with a corn-binder B and 'hay-rackW; it being particularly adapted Ior that use. However, the invention should not be regarded as limited to that specific"application, inasmuch asit may, with little or .no change, be used with a corn-picker andits'wagon,

wherever a similar problem is presented of pen-"- and appear, the shaft against turning, is released periodically long to time'and in that way l1, which is normally held enough to allow thehay-rack W'to drop back a foot or two in relation tothe binder when the bun'dles'delivered from the elevator of the binder arepiled high enough to-makesuch a change in the relationshipof the hay-rack and binder advisable. 'As willalso'soon' appear, thedriver a. ofthe (tractor,

who can easily watchhthe loading the adjustment from time the gathering and bindall be taken care of by ofthe hay-rack, makes ing of the corn stalks can one man instead of requiring another man drivin the correct 7 relationship ing a team pulling the hay-rack. It has been foundthat-unless the man on the hay-rack is experienced and skilled in keeping the hay-rack to the binder at all times, there is entirely too much confusionand loss of -time and generally reduced efiiciency,

which can all befieliminated with a hitch operating in accordancewith myinvention;

i the tractor and is secured, I as at IE; to the front end of-the beam l I. A shaft 18 above; the drum 7 The brake. drum 2| has a brake band 21 cooperating therewith and mounted on one of the bearings M. An arm 28 pivoted on the-bearing i9 is operatively connected with both'ends of the brake band 27, on opposite sides ofits pivot,

positively apply or posi- Aline 30 is pivas indicated at 29, to tively release the band. oted to, and extends arm 28 to ,a control pedal 3!; invfront of the drivers seat 32 on the tractor. I A suitable-ratchet ed in bearings on said boom, and extending forwardly from the lock is provided in coimection' with'the pivoted pedal treadle 33 to lock in any adjusted position.

the pedal releasably to apply the brake band 21 The driver merely tilts the treadle 33 as he depressesthe pedaltj and the pedal then-vv remains locked until manually released by tilt v lengthwise thereof, a rope drum fixed on the outer end portion of said shaft in front of the wagon, a rope attached to and wound on the drum and extending rearwardly to and con-' nected with the wagon, a brake drum fixed on the inner end portion of said shaft adjacent the tractor, a brake band forgripping said drum,

manually operable means controllable from the tractor for releasing and applying said band, and means for attaching the'boom to the'frame of ,a tractor, comprising a pair of beams for attachment to the frame on opposite sides of the {tractor disposed in laterally spaced relation to' .;m another and in transverse relation to the I boom and secured at their rear ends to said boom on approximately one half-portion thereof, and

ing the treadle in the opposite dire'ctionto dis-"' engage the tooth 34 thereon from the ratchet tion of the shoe engaging the forwardside of the treadle. In that way thedrivercanalloiv the hay-rack to drop back just aslittle was far as he considers necessary and can instantly stop the drum 2| by application of the band 21 to hold the hay-rack in a -given adjusted relationship to the-binder. The positive release 5 of the brake is an important feature, because it avoids any drag interfering with the easy turning of the shaft 1?; when the rope drum has to turn'to allow the hay-rack to'drop back, 7

.It should be clearjfrom the foregoing description "that I'have provided ,ahitchof unusually simpleand economical, construction and one and pulling back on the treadle with the toe porv *20 which may be applied easily to any-tractor and operated by persons having only average mechanicalskill: .1 haveavoi-ded the'complications found inmost other hitches and have provided a'hitch which is thoroughly practical and greatly facilitates the" work of the farmer; 1 it is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages -of my invention. The. appended claims have been drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations. 1 v a I claim:

' l Ahitch for use betweena tractor and an agricultural implement and a wagon running alongside the latter; comprising means connecting the implement with the-tractor; a boom carried by the tractor and extending lateral-lythere from in front of the wagon; a shaft mounted in bearings on said :hmm and, -:extending length- Wise thereon a rope drum fixed onithe outer 'end,

portion of said shaft in front. of the .wagong-r a rope attached to andzwound on the drum and extending rearwardly to" and connected with the wagon, brake fixedvon the inner end portion of shaft 'adiacentrthe tractor, a brake'band for gripping said rdnum andmanual- 1y operable mean-s controliiaibie .rmm. the, tractor for releasingand emptying said 'bandf 2A hitch as set :forth in :claiirnl, including a hand crank foraone end of saidishaft-sfror turning the shaft to"the rope 5022 the first mentioned dhu'm preliminarily adjusting :the "Wagon in relation to the implement. i

cent beam and secured at to the front end portion of sai-dyadiacent beam,

mentioned drum Pin the ,aibrace rod secured at one end to the remote and extending diagboom and the adjaits other end portion end portion of the boom onally with respect to the in forwardly spaced-relation to a driverwheel ,of the tractor. a v j 5. vA device as set forth-inclaim 4, including ,a crank for one end of said shaft for tum: ing the shaft to tioned drum in the preliminary adjustment pf the; wagon in relation-to thev boom.

-6.'In'a device of the class described, a hitch boom, a pairof laterally; spaced bearin s on the boom and another bearing'on the boom in-longitudinally spaced relation thereto, ashaft rd tat a'bly supported on said boom-insaid bearings, a 'ropedrumfix-ed on saidshaft between the said pair of bearings, guidemeans on the lattelflbeafi lugs for slidably guiding, the tongue of a wagon relative to the rope. drum when a rope wound on the drum F1n-g,;a nd a brake-band encirclingthe drum supported on said bearing and 7 having meansifcr applying and releasing the same,

a '7. A deviceas set forth inclaim 6,- -including .a hand-crank for one end of-v said shaft for turning the shaft to wind the rope on the first preliminary adjustment pf the wagon in relation to the boom.

8r In ado-vice of; the vclass described, a boom, a pair of laterally spaced bearings, onythe boom and another bearing on the 'boom'in longi tudinally spaced relation thereto, a shaft (mac'- ably supported on said boom in said bearings, p. ropedrum fixedon said shaft between the said ,pairofbearin-gs, guide means on the latter beanings for slidably guiding the tongue of a wagon relative to the rope drum whenva rope. wounchon the'drum is connected to thewvagon, a brake drum fixed on said shaft adjacent the other. heap ing, a brake hand encircling the drum and .sup-

ported .on saidbearing and havingmeans fiorrape plying and releasing the 'same, and means forlattaching the boom to the frame zofa tracto tflomg' an hitch as set forth i claim-P1; including a uide-10h the outer end portion of said boom for slidably guiding the tongue of the.:wagon. v

A hitc'h for use between :a' tractor "and. an agricultural implement and .a wagon running. alongside the latter, compriai 1 linear-is connect: ing'thei-mplelnent with the tractor a boom car;-

ried by the TllI'ZiC'ISDf/Pdld extending ,qlatera'll'y therefrom in frnnzt cfithe wagomm shaft mount.-

prising a pair :of beamsv frame on opposite sides of the tractor disposed i-nlaterallyspaced relation, to one another andin transverse relation to the boom and secured attheir rear, ends to said boom on appr oximately one halfe'portion thereof, and .a :bracerod secured atone end to the remote end portion of the, boom and extending diagonally with respect to Ethe j boom and the adjacent :beam, and secured at-its other end portion to the drive wheel :ofthe tractor..

wind theropeon the first menisconnected to the wagon, a vbrake drum fixed on said shaft adjacent the-other} bearfori'attachment to the' v .front end portion-ofsaid adjacent beam in forwardly spaced .relationto'a 9. A device as set forth in claim 8, including a hand crank for one end of said shaft for turning the shaft to wind the rope on the first mentioned drum in the preliminary adjustment of the wagon in relation to the boom.

10. A hitch for use between a tractor and an agricultural implement and a wagon running alongside the latter, comprising means connecting the implement with the tractor, a boom carried by the tractor and extending laterally therefrom in front of the Wagon, a shaft mounted in bearings on said boom and extending lengthwise thereof, a rope drum fixed on the outer end portion of said shaft in front of the wagon, a rope attached to and wound on the drum and extending rearwardly to and connected with the wagon, a brake drum fixed on the inner end portion of said shaft adjacent the tractor, a brake band for gripping said drum, said band having free end portions adapted to be drawn toward one another to grip the drum, and vice versa, and a manually operable lever pivoted relative to said boom between the end portions of said band and connected on opposite sides of the pivot to said band to apply and r end portions to positively apply and positively release the band.

11. A hitch for use between a tractor and an agricultural implement and a wagon running alongside the latter, comprising means connecting the implement with the tractor, a boom carried by the tractor and extending laterally therefrom in front of the wagon, a shaft mounted in bearings on said boom and extending lengthwise thereof, a rope drum fixed on the outer end portion of said shaft in front of the wagon, a rope attached to and wound on the drum and extending rearwardly to and connected with the wagon, a brake drum fixed on the inner end portion of said shaft adjacent the tractor, a brake band for gripping said drum, a manually operable pedal on the tractor operatively connected with said lease the same, a ratchet for locking the pedal, and a treadle tiltably pivoted on the pedal and having a tooth to engage the ratchet when the treadle is tilted in one direction to lock the pedal in an adjusted position relative to the ratchet.

REUBEN A. KOELLER. 

